Game of chance involving cards and bingo like play and method of playing therefor (90 cards)

ABSTRACT

A ninety card-based bingo game and method of playing thereof. The game consists of a deck of cards numbered from 1 to 90, 3 x 5 matrix card, dealer, players, and casino chips. Players can place multiple bets based on card development on whether a “Bingo”, represented by a one way pattern of five numbers in a row or three numbers in a column, is drawn by a dealer on or before a quantity of randomly pre-drawn cards are played with each card representing a number. If players obtain a “bingo” after the quantity of randomly pre-drawn cards are played, the player wins an amount of money based on a payout scale and the game is over. If the player does not obtain a bingo after the quantity of randomly pre-drawn cards are played, the player forfeits the amount of money bet against the dealer and the game is over.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This provisional application generally relates to a ninety card bingogame, which is popular in the UK. More particularly, this applicationrelates to placing bets on whether a “Bingo”, represented by a one waypattern of five numbers in a row or three numbers in a column, is drawnby a dealer on or before an exact quantity of randomly pre-drawn cardsare played with each card representing a number on a community bingocard.

BACKGROUND

Ninety card bingo is a game of chance in which players purchase at leastone printed or electronic matrix card having numbers thereon. The bingocards contain twenty-seven squares arranged in nine vertical columns andthree horizontal rows. Each row contains five numbers and four blankspaces. Each column contains either one, two, or very rarely threenumbers. The first column can contain numbers 1 through 10. The secondcolumn can contain numbers 11 through 20. The third column can containnumbers 21 through 30. The fourth column can contain numbers 31 through40. The fifth column can contain numbers 41 through 50. The sixth columncan contain numbers 51 through 60. The seventh column can containnumbers 61 through 70. The eight column can contain numbers 71 through80. The ninth column can contain numbers 81 through 90.

Game play begins with a caller randomly calling out numbers 1 through90. Players mark off numbers on their 3×9 card as they are randomlycalled out. The first person to have a card where the drawn numbers forma specified pattern is the winner. When all the numbers required to wina prize have been marked off, the player calls out “Line” or “House”depending on the prize. Before the prize is distributed to the winner,the card is properly checked for accuracy before the “win” is officiallyconfirmed at which time the prize is secured and a new game is begun.

In most ninety card bingo games, players can win through covering ahorizontal line of five numbers on the ticket, two lines covering anytwo lines on the same ticket, or covering all fifteen numbers on theticket. Dependent on the caller, various implementations of specifiedpatterns may exist making ninety card bingo an exciting game in whichplayers can have never ending fun.

Bingo attracts players from all ages to the chance of winning cashprizes. Bingo provides excitement to each player in part because of theuncertainty of the other players' cards and how close the other playersare to receiving a bingo. A player with a relatively poor card may stillwin if the player is able to obtain several numbers in a row.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DESCRIPTION OFTHE APPLICATION. This summary is not intended to identify key featuresof the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aidin determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In accordance with one aspect of the present application, a ninetycard-based bingo game is presented. The game includes a dealer, at leastone player for betting against the dealer, and a plurality of casinochips for the at least one player to make bets. In addition, the gameincludes a 3×9 standard bingo card having twenty-seven squares arrangedin nine vertical columns and three horizontal rows. Each row containsfive numbers and four blank spaces. Each column contains either one,two, or three numbers based on the limitation of the first columncontaining numbers one through ten, the second column containing numberseleven through twenty, the third column containing numbers twenty-onethrough thirty, the fourth column containing numbers thirty-one throughforty, the fifth column containing numbers forty-one through fifty, thesixth column containing numbers fifty-one through sixty, the seventhcolumn containing numbers sixty-one through seventy, the eight columncontaining numbers seventy-one through eighty, and the ninth columncontaining numbers eighty-one through ninety.

Furthermore, the game includes a deck of ninety cards numbered from oneto ninety. Cards numbered one to ten are associated with column one,cards numbered eleven to twenty are associated with column two, cardsnumbered twenty-one to thirty are associated with column three, cardsnumbered thirty-one to forty are associated with column four, cardsnumbered forty-one to fifty are associated with column five, cardsnumbered fifty-one to sixty are associated with column six, cardsnumbered sixty-one to seventy are associated with column seven, cardsnumbered seventy-one to eighty are associated with column eight, andcards numbered eighty-one to ninety are associated with column nine.

The game also includes a 3×5 bingo matrix card having fifteen squaresarranged in five vertical columns and three horizontal rows. The 3×5bingo matrix card includes all the previous numbers within the 3×9standard bingo card shifted to the left.

In accordance with another aspect of the present application a gamehaving four ways to win is presented. The game includes a first way ofwinning by obtaining a bingo after three cards are drawn. In addition,the game includes a second way of winning by obtaining a bingo afterthirty-five cards are drawn and a third way of winning by obtaining abingo after sixty-six cards are drawn. Furthermore, the game includes afourth way of winning by obtaining a bingo after sixty-nine cards aredrawn.

In accordance with another aspect of the present application, a ninetycard bingo game providing multiple ways of winning by betting on chancesof obtaining a bingo and allowing players to bet several timesthroughout the game is presented. The game includes a set amount ofcards to be drawn. Players win if a bingo is obtained after the setamount of cards are drawn, otherwise, the players forfeit their bets.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present application, anelectronic device for playing the card-based bingo game describedherein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ATTACH IVI NTS

ATTACHMENT A (13 Pages) titled “Multi-Play Bingo™ A MULTI-BET HOUSEBANKED BINGO GAME” discloses information related to the casino wageringgame of chance described in this provisional application. ATTACHMENT Ais hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, including, anyappendices, screen shots, and references thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The novel features believed to be characteristic of the application areset forth in the appended claims. In the descriptions that follow, likeparts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the samenumerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn toscale and certain figures may be shown in exaggerated or generalizedform in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The application itself,however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives andadvantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary illustration showing a deck of cards numbered1-90, a bingo card, a dealer position, player positions, casino chips, aboard to play a card-based bingo game, and an automated card dispenserin accordance with one aspect of the present application;

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C depict a flow diagram illustrating exemplaryprocesses performed in the card-based bingo game in accordance with oneaspect of the present application;

FIG. 3 shows typical betting lines for an individual player on the tablein accordance with one aspect of the present application;

FIG. 4 illustrates populating an exemplary 3×9 bingo board withnumerical values restricted by ninety card bingo rules in accordancewith one aspect of the present application;

FIG. 5 depicts condensing the exemplary populated bingo board to a 3×5card in accordance with one aspect of the present application;

FIGS. 6A and 6B show filled spaces on the exemplary card after the firstthree cards are drawn from bin one in accordance with one aspect of thepresent application;

FIGS. 7A and 7B show filled spaces on the exemplary card after the nextthirty-two cards are drawn from bin one in accordance with one aspect ofthe present application;

FIGS. 8A and 8B show filled spaces on the exemplary card after the nextthirty-one cards are drawn from bin two in accordance with one aspect ofthe present application;

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate filled spaces on the exemplary board afterthe final three cards are drawn from bin three in accordance with oneaspect of the present application; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a hand held device for playing the ninety card gamein accordance with one aspect of the present application.

DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLICATION

The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawingsis intended as a description of presently-preferred embodiments of theapplication and is not intended to represent the only forms in which thepresent application may be constructed and/or utilized. The descriptionsets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing andoperating the application in connection with the illustratedembodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same orequivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by differentembodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spiritand scope of this application.

Generally described, this provisional application relates to a ninetycard bingo game. More particularly, this application speeds up therelatively slow-paced game of bingo and allows players to win chips byplacing bets on whether a “Bingo”, represented by a one way pattern offive numbers in a row or three numbers in a column, is drawn by a dealeron or before an exact quantity of randomly drawn cards are played, eachcard possibly corresponding to a number on the bingo matrix. In oneillustrative embodiment, the game consists of drawing X number of cards,wherein X is a set value. After the X number of cards are drawn, thenumbers on the cards are matched with numbers on a bingo 3×5 matrix. Ifa player obtains a bingo indicated by the X number of cards matched withthe bingo 3×5 matrix, the player will win an amount of money bet againstthe dealer based on a payout scale and the game is over. Otherwise, ifthe player fails to obtain a bingo during the drawing of X number ofcards, the player forfeits the amount of money bet against the dealerand the game is over.

To play the ninety card-based bingo game 100, five items are generallyused as depicted in FIG. 1. These items include deck of cards 102, bingo3×5 matrix 104, dealer 106, players 108, and casino chips 110. Inaddition, game 100 can include game table 112, individual betting areas114, first card bin 116, second card bin 118, third card bin 120,discard bin 122, played card bin 124, and house take box 126.Optionally, game 100 can include an automated card dispenser 130 thatnot only keeps track of the number of cards 102 dealt, but also iscapable of automatically populating the matrix 104 after scanning a card102.

Deck of cards 102 include ninety cards 102, each typically labeled fromone to ninety with no repeating numbers therein. Cards 102 can begrouped by numbers with one through ten associated with column one,eleven through twenty associated with column two, twenty-one throughthirty associated with column three, thirty-one through forty associatedwith column four, forty-one through fifty associated with column five,fifty-one through sixty associated with column six, sixty-one throughseventy associated with column seven, seventy-one through eightyassociated with column eight, and eighty-one through ninety associatedwith column nine. Deck of cards 102 are generally labeled on one sideindicating the number associated with the card 102. Cards 102 can alsoinclude trademarked logos on the other side such as Multi-Play Bingo™.

Preferably, cards 102 are reshuffled after each game 100. This allowsfor all cards 102 in play to be randomly distributed during game 100.Furthermore, this keeps the element of surprise for each game 100. Whilea single deck of cards 102 has been described, multiple decks of cards102 may be switched in and out of play.

Continuing with FIG. 1, single bingo 3×5 matrix card 104 is shown. Bingomatrix card 104, as displayed on table 102, includes three rowsintersected by five columns generating fifteen spaces. Each column canbe marked with the letters B, I, N, G, and O. Furthermore, each row canindicate a number from one to three. By using a combination of lettersand numbers, a space on card 104 can be easily located. For example grid128 space B1 corresponds to column B/row 1, B2 corresponds to columnB/row 2, B3 corresponds to column B/row 3, I1 corresponds to columnI/row 1, I2 corresponds to column I/row 2, I3 corresponds to columnI/row 3, N1 corresponds to column N/row 1, N2 corresponds to columnN/row 2, N3 corresponds to column N/row 3, G1 corresponds to columnG/row 1, G2 corresponds to column G/row 2, G3 corresponds to columnG/row 3, O1 corresponds to column O/row 1, O2 corresponds to columnO/row 2, and O3 corresponds to column O/row 3.

Bingo matrix card 104 can be printed onto paper and changed each game100. Alternatively, and more preferably, bingo matrix card 104 can befitted to a TV screen that electronically populates the matrix 104 eachtime a new game 100 is requested. Optimally, the TV screen is plasma,but can also be LCD or the like. Also, a touch-screen can be provided sothat spaces on the card 104 can be easily marked.

While a 3×5 matrix card 104 is provided in the FIGURES, game 100 is notlimited to fifteen spaces. As such, bingo matrix card 104 can have feweror more rows and columns.

Bingos on card 104 can be generated either through horizontal orvertical lines. Nonetheless, different bingo patterns can be used. Thesepatterns can be chosen by the players 108, dealer 106, or randomly.

Continuing with FIG. 1, game 100 can also include dealer 106. Dealer 106is generally associated with the casino where game 100 is being played.Dealer 106 is usually placed at the head of table 112.

As provided in FIG. 1, six players 108 are capable of being seated attable 112. Nevertheless, only one player 108 can begin game 100. Inaddition, more than six players 108 can be part of game 100 and isgenerally dependent on the space around table 112. Players 108 arenormally not allowed behind table 112. In other embodiments, game 100can take place in an electronic or similar device, which will bediscussed below.

Casino chips 110 allow each player to bet against dealer 106 and cancome in the form of $5, $25, and $100 chips 110. Each player's casinochips 110 are placed within individual betting areas 114. Any bet notwon against dealer 106 can be placed into house take box 126.

Each betting spot on individual playing card 114 can be the size of anactual regulation casino chip. Through individual playing cards 114,chips 110 can be tracked electronically through a high frequency RFIDchip. The information can thereafter be supplied to a multi-play bingomainframe. This allows a casino to track the progressive amounts,win/loss ratios, betting averages, and player 108 tendencies. Inaddition, tracking each player 108 allows the casino to award points toeach player 108 through their in-house awards program.

First card bin 116, second card bin 118, third card bin 120, discard bin122, and played card bin 124 allow cards 102 to be distinguished amongeach other. A more detailed description of the bins will be providedbelow.

With reference now to FIG. 2, a flow diagram illustrating exemplaryprocesses, routines, or methods performed in game 100 are presented.Game 100 begins at block 202. At this point, game 100 has one or moreplayers 108. At block 204, players 108 can bet on Bet Line 1 and BetLine 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, players 108 can wager on Bet Line 1 to obtain themulti-link multi-progressive bingo jackpot. A multi-play,multi-progressive jackpot can be based on revenues brought in by eachtable 112. As described above, the revenue of each table 112 can betracked through casino chips 110 at each table 112. A progressivejackpot is a jackpot for a series of tables 112 where the value of thejackpot increase a small amount every game 100 played. Normally,multiple tables 112 are linked together to form one large progressivejackpot that grows more quickly because multiple players 108 arecontributing to the jackpot at the same time.

The jackpot is obtained when the first three cards 102 displays avertical bingo on bingo matrix card 104. Typically, a bingo will occurwhen three cards 102 match the numbers in a single column of card 104.If multiple players 108 at the table 112 bet on the jackpotsimultaneously when it is drawn the jackpot will be split at the table112 proportionally. In reality, the chance of obtaining a bingo withinthe first three cards 102 is rare. In another embodiment, themulti-progressive jackpot can be given based on any number of firstcards 102 dealt. When five cards 102 are dealt, a horizontal bingo maybe obtained to receive the jackpot.

Typically, players 108 can make a minimal bet on Bet Line 1 on table 112in order to obtain the jackpot. In other embodiments, a pay scale basedon the amount of money placed on Bet Line 1 determines the return forplayers 108 if a bingo is obtained within the first three cards 102. Forexample, a fifty cent bet can provide half the jackpot, while a onedollar bet will provide the full amount of the jackpot.

Continuing with FIG. 3, Bet Lines 2 a and 2 b are known as the primarybet. Bet Line 2 on table 112 provides two exemplary ways to win. First,and shown on the left circular area of Bet Line 2 a, players 108 can beton any vertical bingo. The pay scale for placing a bet on this first wayis aX if a bingo is obtained on the first thirty-five cards 102 drawn.Second, and shown on the right circular area of Bet Line 2 b, a player108 can bet on any horizontal solid line bingo. The pay scale forplacing a bet on this second way is bX if a bingo is obtained on thefirst thirty-five cards 102 drawn or cX if a bingo is obtained on thefirst sixty-six cards 102 drawn.

After bets are placed on Bet Line 1 and/or Bet Line 2, dealer 106 drawsthirty-five cards 102 face down and places them into Bin 1 116 at block206. Alternatively, cards 102 can be dispensed one at a time via anautomated card dispenser 130 with a card counting meter to keep track ofthe total cards 102 played. These thirty-five cards 102 are used in themulti-progressive jackpot round and the primary bet round.

At block 208, the dealer 106 draws thirty-one cards 102 face down andplaces them into Bin 2 118. Similar to above, cards 102 can be dispensedone at a time via an automated card dispenser 130 with a card countingmeter to keep track of the total cards 102 played. The thirty-one cards102 will be used in the second chance bet round as provided below.Another three cards 102 are drawn face down at block 210 and placed intoBin 3 120. These cards 102 can also be dispensed one at a time via anautomated card dispenser 130 with a card counting meter to keep track ofthe total cards 102 played. The three additional cards 102 will be usedin the last chance bet round. The remainder of cards 102 can be placedinto the discard bin 124. Turn-and-burn concepts, familiar with thoseskilled in the relevant art, can be applied when separating the cardsinto Bin 1 116, Bin 2 118, and/or Bin 3 120. In another embodiment, nobins are required and cards 102 can be played off the deck of cards 102or alternatively, cards 102 can be dispensed one at a time via theautomated card dispenser 130 with the card counting meter to keep trackof the total cards 102 played.

Continuing with FIG. 2, dealer 106 populates bingo 3×5 matrix 104 atblock 212. To do this, however, a 3×9 ninety card bingo matrix card israndomly populated under the rules set forth in a ninety card bingogame. As shown in FIG. 4, the bingo card contains twenty-seven squaresarranged in nine vertical columns and three horizontal rows. Each rowgenerally contains five numbers and four blank spaces. Each columntypically contains either one, two, or very rarely three numbers. Thefirst column can contain numbers 1 through 10. The second column cancontain numbers 11 through 20. The third column can contain numbers 21through 30. The fourth column can contain numbers 31 through 40. Thefifth column can contain numbers 41 through 50. The sixth column cancontain numbers 51 through 60. The seventh column can contain numbers 61through 70. The eight column can contain numbers 71 through 80. Theninth column can contain numbers 81 through 90.

Populating the 3×9 matrix can be performed by a computer or othermethod. Because this is done independently of the cards 102 drawn inblocks 206, 208, and 210, the odds of winning are random and there is nooutside influence by the casino, dealer 106, or other source. As shownin FIG. 4, the number 4 occupies column 1/row 1, the number 10 occupiescolumn 1/row 3, the number 17 occupies column 2/row 2, the number 18occupies column 2/row 3, the number 34 occupies column 4/row 1, thenumber 39 occupies column 4/row 2, the number 43 occupies column 5/row2, the number 59 occupies column 6/row 1, the number 52 occupies column6/row 3, the number 66 occupies column 7/row 1, the number 63 occupiescolumn 7/row 2, the number 69 occupies column 7/row 3, the number 72occupies column 8/row 3, the number 81 occupies column 9/row 1, and thenumber 90 occupies column 9/row 2.

At block 214 of FIG. 2, the 3×9 matrix is condensed into the 3×5 card104 on table 112 as shown in FIG. 5. Each row will have five numbers inaccordance with the rules of ninety card bingo. The condensed 3×9 matrixinto a 3×5 matrix is labeled with the familiar American letters ofB-I-N-G-O along with row numbers. In one embodiment, the numbers locatedwithin the 3×9 matrix are simply shifted to the left. Continuing withthe previous example, grid 128 space B1 contains 4, B2 contains 17, B3contains 10, I1 contains 34, I2 contains 39, I3 contains 18, N1 contains59, N2 contains 43, N3 contains 52, G1 contains 66, G2 contains 63, G3contains 69, O1 contains 81, O2 contains 90, and O3 contains 72. Inalternative embodiments, the numbers within the 3×9 matrix can bepositioned into the 3×5 matrix through some other method.

Returning to FIG. 2, block 216 begins the multi-progressive jackpotround whereby dealer 106 draws the first three cards 102 from Bin 1 116.Alternatively card dispenser 130 can provide the three cards 102. Basedon the first three cards 102, matches between the three cards 102 andspaces on bingo matrix 104 are located and marked accordingly. Matchescan be manually marked, marked through a touch-screen, or automaticallyplaced in matrix card 104 through an automatic card reader, which may bepart of card dispenser 130. FIG. 6A, which continues the previousexample, shows matches made from the first three cards 102 drawn fromBin 1 116 or from card dispenser 130. Only one card 102 has matched andspace 12 has been marked. At this time three cards 102 have been drawn.Once the cards 102 have been drawn, unmatched cards 102 can be placedinto the played bin 124. Typically, the played bin 124 will containcards 102 that can be used for later reference.

As shown in FIG. 6B, a table is provided for reference that keeps trackof the numbers not yet called, numbers not yet called on the live bingoboard, and numbers called. Each of these can be color coded. Forexample, yellow can represent numbers not yet called, green canrepresent numbers not yet called on the live bingo board, and black canrepresent numbers called. Alternatively, they can be distinguished by apattern or similar method. In the examples shown in FIGS. 6B, 7B, 8B,and 9B, the blank pattern represents numbers not yet called, diagonalsrepresent numbers not yet called on the live bingo board, and checkeredspaces represent numbers called. Typically, players 108 will not see thetables.

At block 218, dealer 106 determines if any bingo has been obtainedthrough the first three cards 102. If not, and as shown in FIG. 6A,dealer 106 collects the bets on Bet Line 1 from each player card 114 atblock 222. If, however, a bingo was achieved on the first three cards102, dealer 106 pays on Bet Line 1, which is the multi-progressivejackpot, at block 220. In one alternative embodiment, not shown in FIG.2, game 100 ends after the jackpot is paid.

After blocks 220 and 222, block 224 begins the primary bet round.Alternatively, game 100 can end after a multi-progressive jackpot ispaid. Dealer 106 draws the remaining thirty-two cards 102 from Bin 1116. Alternatively, the cards 102 can be provided by card dispenser 130.Based on the thirty-two cards 102 from Bin 1 116, matches between thethirty-two cards 102 and spaces on bingo matrix 104 are located andmarked accordingly. Continuing the previous example, FIG. 7A showsmatches made from all thirty-five cards 102 drawn from Bin 1 116 or fromcard dispenser 130. As shown, six out of the thirty-five cards 102 havematched and spaces B1, I2, G1, G2, O1, and O3 are marked accordingly. Atthis time thirty-five cards 102 have been drawn. Once the cards 102 havebeen drawn, unmatched cards 102 can be placed into the played bin 124.FIG. 7B represents all cards 102 played up to block 224.

At block 226, dealer 106 determines if any bingo has been obtainedthrough the thirty-five cards 102. If a bingo was obtained on thethirty-five cards 102, dealer 106 pays on Bet Lines 2 a and 2 b at block228 and the game 100 ends at block 252. If not, and as shown in FIG. 6A,players 108 can choose to enter a second chance betting round. At block230, dealer 106 collects bets on Bet Line 2 a. In other embodiments, andnot shown in FIG. 2, game 100 does not end after block 228, but insteadcontrol is given to block 232.

Players 108 are given a second chance bet beginning at block 232. Basedon the first thirty-five cards from Bin 1 116 or from card dispenser130, players 108 now have an opportunity to do additional side bettingbased on their new odds of completing a bingo. Players 108 can placebets on Bet Line 3 as depicted in FIG. 3.

Placing bets on Bet Line 3 allows players 108 to make secondary bets onindividual horizontal lines and/or a set of vertical lines. Preferably,the bets on Bet Line 3 cannot exceed the bets on Bet Line 2. Bet Line 3includes four places to bet. On the three left places to bet, players108 can bet on whether a bingo can be obtained in any row. The pay scalefor placing a bet on these three places is dX if a bingo is obtained onthe additional thirty-one cards 102 drawn from Bin 2 118 or from carddispenser 130. On the right side place to bet, players 108 can bet onwhether a bingo can be obtained in a set of columns. Preferably, thenumber of columns is three. However, one skilled in the relevant artwill appreciate that more or less columns could be required. The payscale for placing a bet on this place is eX if a bingo is obtained onthe additional thirty-one cards 102 drawn from Bin 2 118 or from carddispenser 130. The secondary bets allow players 108 to evaluate theirchances of obtaining bingos.

Dealer 106 draws the full thirty-one cards 102 from Bin 2 118 or fromcard dispenser 130 at block 234. Matches between the thirty-one cards102 and spaces on bingo matrix 104 are located and marked accordingly.Continuing the previous example, FIG. 8A shows matches made from theadditional thirty-one cards 102 drawn from Bin 2 118. As shown, elevencards 102 have matched and spaces B1, I2, N1, N2, N3, G1, G2, G3, O1,O2, and O3 have been marked. At this time sixty-six cards 102 have beendrawn. Once the cards 102 have been drawn, they can be placed into theplayed bin 124. FIG. 8B represents all the cards 102 played up to block234.

At block 236, dealer 106 determines if any bingo has been obtainedthrough the drawn sixty-six cards 102. If a bingo was obtained by thesixty-six cards 102, dealer 106 pays on Bet Line 2 b and Bet Line 3 atblock 238 and the game 100 ends at block 252. If not, and as shown inFIG. 2, the first chance of winning for game 100 is over and the housewins all of the chips 110 on the table 112. In other embodiments, andnot shown in FIG. 2, game 100 does not end after block 238, but insteadcontrol is given to block 240.

Prior to collecting the chips 110, however, players 108 are given anopportunity for a last chance at game 100. A last chance bet roundbegins at block 240 where players 108 can place a bet on Bet Line 4,which is represented as the “Buy 3 More” spot. Typically, players 108will be on Bet Line 4 when they need only one more card 102 to obtain abingo. Players 108 can place bets on Bet Line 4 not exceeding originalbets on bet lines 2 b and 3.

Continuing with FIG. 2, dealer 106 determines if any bets were made onBet Line 4 at block 242. If not, control is given to block 248. If betswere made on Bet Line 4, dealer 106 draws the three cards 102 from Bin 3120 or from card dispenser 130 at block 244. Based on the drawn threecards 102 from Bin 3 120, matches are found on bingo matrix 104 andmarked accordingly. Continuing the previous example, FIG. 9A showsmatches made from the three cards 102 drawn from Bin 3 120 or from carddispenser 130. As shown, twelve cards 102 have matched and spaces B1,I1, I2, N1, N2, N3, G1, G2, G3, O1, O2, and O3 have been marked. At thistime sixty-nine cards 102 have been drawn. Once the cards 102 have beendrawn, they can be placed into the played bin 124. FIG. 9B representsall cards 102 played up until block 244.

At block 246, dealer 106 determines if any bingo has been obtainedthrough the sixty-nine cards 102. If a bingo was obtained on thesixty-nine cards 102, dealer 106 pays on Bet Line 4 at block 250 and thegame 100 ends at block 252. The pay scale for placing a bet on these BetLine 4 is fX if a bingo is obtained on the additional three cards 102drawn from Bin 3 120. If not, game 100 is over and the house wins all ofthe chips 110 on the table 112 at block 248 and the game 100 ends atblock 252. As shown in FIG. 9A, spaces B1, I1, N1, G1, and O1 have beenmarked giving the players 108, who bet on Bet Line 4, a winning BINGO.

While FIG. 2 provided a multi-progressive jackpot round, primary betround, second chance bet round, and a last chance bet round, the roundsdo not necessarily have to occur in that order. Furthermore, more orless rounds can be included. These rounds can possibly include less ormore cards placed within Bin 1 116, Bin 2 118, and Bin 3 120. In otherembodiments, the order in which game 100 was presented can beinterchangeable. For example, the separation of cards 102 does notnecessarily occur after bets are placed. In addition, game 100 does nothave to end after a bingo is achieved, but can continue to the nextround for additional betting and winning.

In addition, while multiple pay scales have been described on each ofthe Bet Lines shown in FIG. 3, these are for illustrative purposes andshould not be construed as limiting. In addition, one skilled in therelevant art will appreciate that there are multiple ways of setting upan individual player's card 114 for betting against dealer 106.Furthermore, a single player's card 114 can be used by all players 108with the chips 110 distinguishing one player 108 from another.

FIGS. 1 through 9 generally relate to a table casino game 100. In otherembodiments, game 100 can be played on a hand held device as shown inFIG. 10. As depicted, the device can be used to challenge other playerson an online system. For example, bingo.com already has an online systemwhere players can gamble and play bingo games.

In other embodiments, game 100 on the hand held device can be a standalone game played against the dealer. In addition, other players can becomputer based. In some formats, “fake” money would be used. Slotmachines running game 100 may also be available to players 108.

While a table embodiment and a hand held device can be used to play game100, multiple other variations of game 100 can exist. For example, game100 can come within a home version. Furthermore, game 100 can also beplayed at work from an internet browser. Through these wide variety ofways to play game 100, multiple machines can be combined to form themulti-progressive jackpot.

While ninety card decks 102 have been provided, a number of decks can beuse having different amounts of cards. The generalized concept of game100 is that players bet in the chance that a bingo is obtained after acertain number of cards are drawn.

In the previous FIGURES, electronic versions of game 100 were shown.Each version can be implemented using hardware and software. Anexemplary hardware and operating environment for implementing theelectronic versions can include a general purpose computer system.Furthermore the hardware/software described below can be used for otherelectronic versions of game 100. The computer system may include aprocessing unit, system memory, and system bus that operatively couplesvarious system components, including the system memory to the processingunit. There may be only one or there may be more than one processingunit, such that the processor of the computer comprises a single centralprocessing unit (CPU), or a plurality of processing units, commonlyreferred to as a parallel processing environment. The computer may be aconventional computer, a distributed computer, a web server, a fileserver, or any other type of computer.

The system bus may be any of several types of bus structures including amemory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, a switched fabric,point-to-point connections, and a local bus using any of a variety ofbus architectures. The system memory may also be referred to as simplythe memory, and includes read only memory (ROM) and random access memory(RAM). A basic input/output system (BIOS), containing the basic routinesthat help to transfer information between elements within the computer,such as during start-up, is stored in ROM. The computer further includesa hard disk drive for reading from and writing to a hard disk, notshown, a magnetic disk drive for reading from or writing to a removablemagnetic disk, and an optical disk drive for reading from or writing toa removable optical disk such as a CD ROM or other optical media.

The hard disk drive, magnetic disk drive, and optical disk drive areconnected to the system bus by a hard disk drive interface, a magneticdisk drive interface, and an optical disk drive interface, respectively.The drives and their associated computer-readable media providenonvolatile storage of computer-readable instructions; data structures,e.g., a catalog and a context-based index; program modules, e.g., a webservice and an indexing robot; and other data for the computer. Itshould be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any type ofcomputer-readable media that can store data that is accessible by acomputer, for example, magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digitalvideo disks, RAM, and ROM, may be used in the exemplary operatingenvironment.

A number of program modules may be stored on the hard disk, magneticdisk, optical disk, ROM, or RAM, including an operating system, one ormore application programs, other program modules, and program data. Auser may enter commands and information into the personal computerthrough input devices such as a keyboard and pointing device, forexample, a mouse. Other input devices (not shown) may include, forexample, a microphone, a joystick, a game pad, a tablet, a touch screendevice, a satellite dish, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a videocamera, a touch screen board, single player wells, and an automated cardreader. Input devices can also be individual player wells. These andother input devices are often connected to the processing unit through aserial port interface that is coupled to the system bus, but may beconnected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, game port or auniversal serial bus (USB).

A monitor or other type of display device is also connected to thesystem bus via an interface, such as a video adapter. In addition to themonitor, computers typically include other peripheral output devices,such as a printers and speakers. These and other output devices areoften connected to the processing unit through the serial port interfacethat is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by otherinterfaces, such as a parallel port, game port, or a universal serialbus (USB).

The computer may operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers. These logical connectionsmay be achieved by a communication device coupled to or integral withthe computer; the application is not limited to a particular type ofcommunications device. The remote computer may be another computer, aserver, a router, a network personal computer, a client, a peer device,or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of theelements described above relative to the computer. Computer can belogically connected to the Internet. The logical connection can includea local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), personal areanetwork (PAN), campus area network (CAN), metropolitan area network(MAN), or global area network (GAN). Such networking environments arecommonplace in office networks, enterprise-wide computer networks,intranets and the Internet, which are all types of networks.

When used in a LAN environment, the computer may be connected to thelocal network through a network interface or adapter, which is one typeof communications device. When used in a WAN environment, the computertypically includes a modem, a network adapter, or any other type ofcommunications device for establishing communications over the wide areanetwork. The modem, which may be internal or external, is connected tothe system bus via the serial port interface. In a networkedenvironment, program modules depicted relative to the personal computer,or portions thereof, may be stored in a remote memory storage device. Itis appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary andother means of and communications devices for establishing acommunications link between the computers may be used.

The technology described herein may be implemented as logical operationsand/or modules in one or more systems. The logical operations may beimplemented as a sequence of processor-implemented steps executing inone or more computer systems and as interconnected machine or circuitmodules within one or more computer systems. Likewise, the descriptionsof various component modules may be provided in terms of operationsexecuted or effected by the modules. The resulting implementation is amatter of choice, dependent on the performance requirements of theunderlying system implementing the described technology. Accordingly,the logical operations making up the embodiments of the technologydescribed herein are referred to variously as operations, steps,objects, or modules. Furthermore, it should be understood that logicaloperations may be performed in any order, unless explicitly claimedotherwise or a specific order is inherently necessitated by the claimlanguage.

One skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the computer systemcan include code that is loaded from a hard drive to be run on theprocessor. Alternatively, the system can be saved on a suitable storagemedium such as a diskette, a CD, or like devices.

The system can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, anentirely software embodiment or an embodiment containing both hardwareand software elements. In one embodiment, the system is implemented insoftware, which includes but is not limited to firmware, residentsoftware, microcode, etc.

Furthermore, the system can take the form of a computer program productaccessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable medium providingprogram code for use by or in connection with a computer or anyinstruction execution system. For the purposes of this description, acomputer-usable or computer readable medium can be any apparatus thatcan contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program foruse by or in connection with the instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device) or apropagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable medium comprise asemiconductor or solid-state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computerdiskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), arigid magnetic disk and an optical disk. Current examples of opticaldisks comprise compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), compactdisk-read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD.

A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing programcode comprises at least one processor coupled directly or indirectly tomemory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can includelocal memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulkstorage, and cache memories that provide temporary storage of at leastsome program code in order to reduce the number of times code isretrieved from bulk storage during execution.

Input/output or I/O devices (including but not limited to keyboards,displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system eitherdirectly or through intervening I/O controllers.

Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable the dataprocessing system to become coupled to other data processing systems orremote printers or storage devices through intervening private or publicnetworks. Modems, cable modem and Ethernet cards are just a few of thecurrently available types of network adapters.

Described above, aspects of the present application are embodied in aWorld Wide Web (“WWW”) or (“Web”) site accessible via the Internet. Asis well known to those skilled in the art, the term “Internet” refers tothe collection of networks and routers that use the Transmission ControlProtocol/Internet Protocol (“TCP/IP”) to communicate with one another.The internet can include a plurality of local area networks (“LANs”) anda wide area network (“WAN”) that are interconnected by routers. Therouters are special purpose computers used to interface one LAN or WANto another. Communication links within the LANs may be wireless, twistedwire pair, coaxial cable, or optical fiber, while communication linksbetween networks may utilize 56 Kbps analog telephone lines, 1 Mbpsdigital T-1 lines, 45 Mbps T-3 lines or other communications links knownto those skilled in the art.

Furthermore, computers and other related electronic devices can beremotely connected to either the LANs or the WAN via a digitalcommunications device, modem and temporary telephone, or a wirelesslink. It will be appreciated that the internet comprises a vast numberof such interconnected networks, computers, and routers.

The Internet has recently seen explosive growth by virtue of its abilityto link computers located throughout the world. As the Internet hasgrown, so has the WWW. As is appreciated by those skilled in the art,the WWW is a vast collection of interconnected or “hypertext” documentswritten in HTML, or other markup languages, that are electronicallystored at or dynamically generated by “WWW sites” or “Web sites”throughout the Internet. Additionally, client-side software programsthat communicate over the Web using the TCP/IP protocol are part of theWWW, such as web browsers, SOAP clients, JavaScript, Java Applets,instant messaging, e-mail, browser plug-ins, Macromedia Flash, chat andothers. Other interactive hypertext environments may includeenvironments such as those provided in America Online or other onlineservice providers, as well as the “wireless Web” provided by variouswireless networking providers, especially those in the cellular phoneindustry. It will be appreciated that the present application couldapply in any such interactive communication environments, however, forpurposes of discussion, the Web is used as an exemplary interactivehypertext environment with regard to the present application.

A website is a server/computer connected to the Internet that hasstorage capabilities for storing hypertext documents and that runsadministrative software for handling requests for those stored hypertextdocuments as well as dynamically generating hypertext documents.Embedded within a hypertext document are a number of hyperlinks, i.e.,highlighted portions of text which link the document to anotherhypertext document possibly stored at a website elsewhere on theInternet. Each hyperlink is assigned a URL that provides the name of thelinked document on a server connected to the Internet. Thus, whenever ahypertext document is retrieved from any web server, the document isconsidered retrieved from the World Wide Web. Known to those skilled inthe art, a web server may also include facilities for storing andtransmitting application programs, such as application programs writtenin the JAVA.® programming language from Sun Microsystems, for executionon a remote computer. Likewise, a web server may also include facilitiesfor executing scripts and other application programs on the web serveritself.

A remote access user may retrieve hypertext documents from the WorldWide Web via a web browser program. A web browser, such as MozillaFirefox or Microsoft's Internet Explorer, is a software applicationprogram for providing a user interface to the WWW. Upon request from theremote access user via the web browser, the web browser requests thedesired hypertext document from the appropriate web server using the URLfor the document and the hypertext transport protocol (“HTTP”). HTTP isa higher-level protocol than TCP/IP and is designed specifically far therequirements of the WWW. HTTP runs on top of TCP/IP to transferhypertext documents and user-supplied form data between server andclient computers. The WWW browser may also retrieve programs from theweb server, such as JavaScript or JAVA applets, for execution on theclient computer. Finally, the WWW browser may include optional softwarecomponents, called plug-ins, that run specialized functionality withinthe browser.

The foregoing description is provided to enable any person skilled inthe relevant art to practice the various embodiments described herein.Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the relevant art, and generic principles defined hereinmay be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the claims are not intendedto be limited to the embodiments shown and described herein, but are tobe accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims,wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean“one and only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.”All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the variousembodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or latercome to be known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art areexpressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to beencompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein isintended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether suchdisclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.

1. A ninety card-based bingo game comprising: a dealer; at least oneplayer for betting against the dealer; a plurality of casino chips forthe at least one player to make bets; a 3×9 standard bingo card havingtwenty-seven squares arranged in nine vertical columns and threehorizontal rows, wherein each row contains five numbers and four blankspaces and each column contains either one, two, or three numbers basedon the limitation of the first column containing numbers one throughten, the second column containing numbers eleven through twenty, thethird column containing numbers twenty-one through thirty, the fourthcolumn containing numbers thirty-one through forty, the fifth columncontaining numbers forty-one through fifty, the sixth column containingnumbers fifty-one through sixty, the seventh column containing numberssixty-one through seventy, the eight column containing numbersseventy-one through eighty, and the ninth column containing numberseighty-one through ninety; a deck of ninety cards numbered from one toninety with cards numbered one to ten associated with column one, cardsnumbered eleven to twenty associated with column two, cards numberedtwenty-one to thirty associated with column three, cards numberedthirty-one to forty associated with column four, cards numberedforty-one to fifty associated with column five, cards numbered fifty-oneto sixty associated with column six, cards numbered sixty-one to seventyassociated with column seven, cards numbered seventy-one to eightyassociated with column eight, cards numbered eighty-one to ninetyassociated with column nine; and a 3×5 bingo matrix card having fifteensquares arranged in five vertical columns and three horizontal rows,wherein the 3×5 bingo matrix card includes all the previous numberswithin the 3×9 standard bingo card with the empty spaces removed.
 2. Agame having four ways to win comprising: a first way of winning byobtaining a bingo after three cards are drawn. a second way of winningby obtaining a bingo after thirty-five cards are drawn: a third way ofwinning by obtaining a bingo after sixty-six cards are drawn: and afourth way of winning by obtaining a bingo after sixty-nine cards aredrawn.
 3. A ninety card bingo game providing multiple ways of winning bybetting on chances of obtaining a bingo and allowing players to betseveral times throughout the game, the game comprising: a set amount ofcards to be drawn, wherein players win if a bingo is obtained after theset amount of cards are drawn, otherwise, the players forfeit theirbets.
 4. An electronic device for playing the card-based bingo gamedescribed herein.